Invalid chair



Sept. 1, 1964 P. SMITH ETAL 3,147,039

INVALID CHAIR Filed June 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN vE/Yrms, PAUL SMITH 0mm as ROVAL 5mm wmww A TTORNE K P. SMITH ETAL INVALID CHAIR Sept. 1, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 27, 1962 IN VEN 70/35. PAUL 5M I TH (Hfl/PL E5 A 0 VAL SM! 771 p 1964 P. SMITH ETAL INVALID CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 27, 1962 m W mrM mw v m W O R m B) MMQ I A TTUP/Yf x United States Patent 3,147,039 HNVALKD CHAIR Paul Smith, 2730 25th St., and Charies Royal Smith, 2624 Sheridan, both of Des Moines, Iowa Filed June 27, 1962, Ser. No. 205,732 3 Claims. (Cl. 2979tl) This invention relates to a wheel-type chair and more particularly to a combination wheel chair and portable stretcher which is convertible for transportation of a patient either in a sitting or a lying position.

The desirability and advantages of having this combination chair and stretcher, hereinafter referred to as an invalid chair are obvious, this type of chair being the subject of much commercialization and many patented inventions. There is, however, considerable room for improvement in this field, and we have provided an improved chair from particularly two standpoints; namely, simplicity of structure, and ease of handling.

It is therefore, an object of our invention to provide an improved invalid chair capable of movement from a patient-sitting position to a patient-lying position, and vice versa.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved invalid chair so arranged that any nurse, aid or other person of slender build can easily maneuver a small or large invalid person from a bed onto the chair while in a horizontal position, readily change the chair and the invalid to a sitting position by a manual movement requiring a minimum of effort and reverse the process also with ease.

A further object of this invention is to provide an invalid chair as characterized hereinbefore and which utilizes a simple structural arrangement for accomplishing relative movement of the parts, rather than the use of motors, cranking devices and the like.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of an invalid chair as characterized hereinbefore which comprises a back rest frame, a seat rest frame, and a leg rest frame, all pivotally connected for relative movement, and which are releasably held in any one of a plurality of positions by a remotely controlled locking unit.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a convertible wheel chair as characterized hereinbefore which includes at least one pair of wheels and an improved means for releasably locking the wheels against movement.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a chair capable of attaining the objects enumerated hereinbefore, and which is simple in construction and also strong and durable, effective and eflicient in use to enable but one person to handle any size patient in utilizing the convertible chair to its utmost.

These objects, and other features and advantages of our invention will become readily apparent in view of the following description, when taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invalid chair of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the chair in the upright position thereof, the view from either side being the same;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the chair along the line 33 in FIG. 2, but showing the chair in the half-reclining position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the chair in the completely horizontal position;

FIG. 5 is a slightly reduced rear elevational view of the chair; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the locking device.

3,l47,@39 Patented Sept. l, 1964 Referring now to the drawings, the invalid chair of this invention is designated generally at 10 in FIG. 1 and comprises a wheeled pair of transversely connected side frames 11, each of which is of identical structure, a back rest frame 12, a seat rest frame 33, a foot and leg rest frame 14, hereinafter referred to as a leg rest frame, a pair of identical lift frames 16, and a locking mechanism 17 (FIG. 2) remotely operated by a handle 18.

Each side frame 11 comprises an L-shaped upper brace 19 on one lower end of which is mounted a bracket 21 and a wheel 22 rotatably mounted on the bracket 21. Another L-shaped brace 23 is connected at one end to the brace 19 and has a caster wheel 24 mounted thereon. As compared to the upper braces 19 which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chair in and in a vertical plane the lower braces 23 diverge from each other slightly from the rear of the chair It) toward the front thereof. A vertical brace 26 is connected to and extended between the upper brace 19 and the lower brace 23 for supporting the former. Due to the spreading lower braces 23, the vertical braces 26 actually converge slightly at their upper ends (FIG. 5) to accommodate same. A portion 27 of the upper brace 19 extends forwardly of the connection between the brace 19 and the upright brace 26 and extends forwardly toward what shall be called the front of the chair 10.

The side frames 11 are interconnected by a Vertical spaced pair of transversely extended bars 28 and 29 (FIG. 3) extended between the upper brace 19. Another bar 31 extends transversely between the lower braces 23 (FIG. 3), and a fourth transverse bar 32 extends between the upright braces 26.

For locking the rear wheels 22, a U-shaped braking bracket 34 (FIG. 3) is placed with its base 33 extended over the wheel tread, and has its legs 34 straddling the wheel and pivotally connected to the wheel axle 36. Each U-shaped braking bracket 3 is mounted between the legs of its wheel bracket 21 (FIG. 5). A Ushaped footpedal 37 has each end 38 (FIGS. 3 and 5) pivotally inserted in the adjacent wheel bracket 21, and is provided with a transversely extended locking bar 39.

During normal movement of the chair it each braking bracket 30 is in an elevated position upwardly and away from the wheel by means of a spring 41 (FIG. 4) connected between the bracket 36 and the adjacent wheel bracket 21. The braking brackets 30 also engage and lift the foot pedal 37. However, to lock the chair 10 against rolling movement the foot pedal 37 is pressed downwardly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, until the locking bar 39 engages a notch 42 formed on the upper surface of each braking bracket inner leg 34.

In this position of the foot pedal 37, the braking brackets 36 are forced with their bases 33 frictionally engaged with the wheel treads. To release the braking brackets from their wheel locking positions, the foot pedal 37 is pulled upwardly by the operators foot in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, breaking the locking relationship and enabling the spring 41 to again lift the brackets 3t} away from the rear wheels 22.

Each upper brace 19 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided along its horizontal portion with an upholstered arm rest 43. A pair of vertically disposed adjusting rods 44 are secured at their upper ends to each arm rest 43 and are slidably inserted through a pair of sleeves 46 secured to the upper brace 19. A wing nut 47 inserted into one of the sleeves 46 provides means for adjustably locking each arm rest in a vertically raised or lowered position.

The back rest frame 12 comprises a U-shaped tubular member 48 (FIG. 5) on the upper surface of which is securely fastened an upholstered back support 49 (FIG.

3). The tubular member 48 has a pair of parallel legs 51 (FIG. 5) transversely connected by a U-shaped hand rail 52, a center bar 53, and a small rod 54. Transversely aligned with the rod 54, a pair of pivots 56 (FIG. 2) connect the back rest frame legs 51, at a point located normally above and spaced from the lower ends 57 of the legs 51, to the side frame upper braces 19. Secured within the upholstered back support .-9 is a plate 50 used to aid in moving the back rest frame 12 downwardly. A belt 45, as shown only in FIG. 1, is inserted through a hoop 55 secured to a leg 51, for use in securing a patient to the back support 49, if necessary. The seat rest frame 13 is comprised of a pair of parallel tubular, elongated elements 58 axially aligned with the back rest legs 51 and pivotally connected at their rear ends to the forward lower ends 57 of the legs. A transverse rod 5* (FIG. 3) interconnects the forward ends of the seat rest frame elements 58, and an upholstered seat 61 is securely mounted on the elements 58.

Transversely aligned with the rod 59, a pair of pivots 62 (FIG. 2) pivotally connect the forward ends of the seat rest frame elements 58 to the leg portions 63 of a substantially U-shaped tubular member 64 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which is the basis of the leg rest frame 14. The upper rear ends 66 (FIG. 3) of the leg portions 63 are pivotally connected at 65 to the ends of the side frame upper brace forward portions 27, it thereby being clearly seen that the seat rest-leg rest pivots 62 are spaced forwardly of the rear end 66 pivoted connections.

Spaced slightly below and forwardly of the rod 59 (FIG. 3), a transverse brace bar 67 interconnects the leg portions 63, and an upholstered leg rest 64 is mounted on and secured to the leg portions substantially above the brace bar 67. The leg portions 63 are offset inwardly forwardly of the brace bar 67 and have a movable upholstered foot rest 63 mounted thereon. Without going into detail, the foot rest 68 is movable longitudinally of the offset leg portions 63A and are releasably lockable at any position thereon.

For the purpose of transmitting a pivotal downward movement of the back rest frame 12 (FIG. 3) into a lifting force for the leg rest frame, the identical lift frames 16 are provided. Each lift frame includes a rear strut 69 (FIGS. 2 and 3) welded to each back rest member leg 51 at a point thereon spaced upwardly and rearwardly of the pivots 55. The strut 69 extends downwardly and forwardly at an acute angle from the leg 51 and in the same vertical plane therewith. A front strut 71 (FIG. 3) is secured to the brace bar 67 just inside a leg portion 63 and extends downwardly and rearwardly therefrom and is the same vertical plane with a longitudinally aligned rear strut 69.

Each front strut 71 and rear strut 69 are interconnected by an elongated tube 72 (FIG. 3) pivotally connected at each end to a respective strut. It may readily be seen by referring to FIG. 3 that a trio of parallel arrangements are present. The side frame upper brace horizontal portions 20, the seat rest frame elements 58, and the lift frame tubes 72 are continually parallel inspective of the relative movement or positions of the parts of the chair 10.

In the present embodiment, the longitudinal length of the back rest member 43 (FIG. 3) is approximately thirtyfive inches, and the distance from the pivots 56 to the pivots 73, connecting the legs 51 to the elements 58, is approximately eight inches. The distance of the pivots 56 to the pivots 65 is approximately nineteen inches, and the distance between the pivots 73 to the pivots 62 and also the length of the tubes 72 are also nineteen inches. The longitudinal length of the leg rest member 64 is approximately twenty-seven inches, and the distance between the pivots 65 and 62 is approximately eight inches, comparable to the pivots 56-73 distance.

As stated hereinbefore the invalid chair is readily converted from an upright position to a horizontal position (FIG. 4). The FIGS. 1 and 2 positions show the chair It) almost completely upright; however, to move the chair to its upright limit, one need merely pull up on the handle 13 (FIG. 2) and to push forward against the hand rail 52 on the upper rear surface of the back 49. Likewise, to change the chair to either the half-reclining position of FIG. 3, or to the full-reclining, horizontal position of FIG. 4, again one needs merely to pull up on the handle 18 (FIG. 2) and to push downwardly against the hand rail 52 or the upper rear surface of the back 49. As long as the handle 13 is lifted or pulled upwardly to its limit, the back rest frame 12, the seat rest frame 13, and the leg rest frame 14 are relatively movable.

The handle 18 is pivotally connected to a bracket 74 (FIGS. 4 and 5) secured to the back surface of the upholstered back 49. A chain 76 is connected to the handle 18 and extends loosely to the hooked end 77 of a safety latch member 78. This member 78 is pivotally mounted to a bracket 79 (FIG. 3) welded to the center bar 53 and biased counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, by means of a spring 81 connected between the latch member 78 and the rod 54.

Thus, upon movement of the invalid chair 10 to the horizontal position of FIG. 4, the hooked end 77 of latch member 78 automatically engages a lug S2 welded to the under surface of the upper bar 28 connecting the side frames 11. The spring acts to hold the latch member 78 in engagement with the lug 82 and thus upward move ment of the back rest frame 12 is prevented. However, referring to FIG. 4, it can readily be seen that by pulling rearwardly on said handle 13, the latch member 78 is rotated against the bias of the spring 81 and the hooked end 77 is pulled away from beneath the lug 82, thereby enabling the back rest frame 12 to be pivoted upwardly, whereby the remainder of the parts automatically assume their intended relative positions.

The latter occurs due to the pull of the handle 18 also effecting a release of the locking mechanism 17, which normally locks the leg rest frame 14, and thus the rest of the frames, against movement. The locking mechanism 17 best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, acts to frictionally engage a shaft 83 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to a bracket 84 secured to the brace bar 67. A guide 86 is mounted on a bracket 87 secured to the side frame bar 32, and has a bore therethrough for slidably receiving the shaft 83.

Pivotally mounted at 88 on an extension 89 of the guide 86 is a front yoke 91 (FIG. 6) the sides of which straddle the shaft 83 and the closed upper end 92 of which extends over the shaft 83. Pivoted at 93 to the front yoke 91 is a V-shaped brake shoe 94 the upper surface of which is curved to accommodate the curvature of the shaft 83, and which has a lining (not shown) secured thereto for engagement with the shaft 83.

The lower end 96 (FIG. 6) of the front yoke 91 is connected to the wire 97 of a Bowden wire unit 98, and which Wire 97 extends through a sheath 99, held stationary by a bracket device (FIG. 6) and the handle bracket 74 (FIG. 3), up to a connection with the handle 18. It can readily be seen that should the shaft 83 tend to move downwardly through the guide 86, wherein the chair It) would be being manipulated toward a reclining position, the slight frictional engagement of the shaft 83 upon the shoe 94 tends to rotate the shoe 94 and thus the front yoke 91 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6. This attempted arcuate movement of the front yoke 91 results in the brake shoe 94 being forced into a frictionally tight engagement with the shaft 33, thereby preventing the attempted downward movement thereof.

To release the front yoke 91 so that downward movement of the shaft 83 is possible, an upward pull on the handle 13 to effect a movement to the left (FIG. 6) of the wire 97 results in a clockwise movement of the front yoke 91, thus moving the brake shoe 94 away from engagement with the shaft 83.

As upward movement of the shaft 83 relative to the guide 86 would also effect a clockwise movement of the front yoke 91 to normally prevent same, a rear yoke 100 is pivotally mounted at 101 on an extension extended rearwardly of the guide 86. The rear yoke 101 also straddles the shaft 83 and has a brake shoe 103 identical to the front yoke brake shoe 94 pivotally connected thereto above the shaft 83 for engagement therewith. A pair of springs 104 and 106 are connected between the front and rear yokes 91 and 100 respectively, and tend to bias the yokes in a manner to cause a continual frictional engagement of the brake shoes 94 and 103 with the shaft 86.

As was the case with the front yoke shoe 94, attempted upward movement of the shaft 83 through the guide 86 results in the rear yoke 100 and the rear brake shoe 103 moving further into frictional engagement with the shaft 83. Thus, as the springs 104 and 106 bias the front brake shoe 94 counterclockwise (FIG. 4) toward the shaft, and bias the rear brake shoe 103 clockwise (FIG. 4) toward the shaft 83, the normal condition of the locking mechanism 17 is locked against the shaft 83.

Releasing movement of the front yoke 91, by action of the handle 18, also effects a release of the rear yoke 100 due to the provision of a normally slack wire 107 (MG. 6) connected to and extended between the top of the yokes 91 and 100. Thus, by a simple upward movement of the handle, the front yoke 91, and the rear yoke 100, due to the wire 107 being pulled taut, are both rotated clockwise about their respective pivots 93 and 101 (FIG. 6) whereby both brake shoes are moved out of engagement with the shaft 86. The chair 10 can then be readily moved to any position between a full upright and a full reclining, and locked in that position by merely releasing the handle 18.

We claim:

1. An invalid chair comprising in combination:

wheeled, transversely connected side frames;

a back rest frame including a pair of frame members pivotally connected to said side frames;

a leg rest frame pivotally connected to said side frames;

a seat rest frame pivotally connected at one end to the lower ends of said frame members and at the other end to said leg rest frame; means for lifting said leg rest frame in response to downward pivotal movement of said back rest frame including a pair of struts each secured to one of said frame members at a point thereon spaced from said lower ends, said struts disposed in the same vertical plane with said frame members and extended angularly downwardly from said frame members, and a pair of pivotally connected elongated elements one of which is pivotally connected at a free end to said strut and the other of which is connected in a rigid manner at a free end to said leg rest frame;

locking means operatively connected to and extended between said side frames and said leg rest frame for releasably locking same in any one of a plurality of relatively moved positions.

2. An invalid chair comprising in combination:

wheeled, transversely connected side frames;

at back rest frame including a pair of frame members pivotally connected to said side frames;

a leg rest frame of a generally U-shape the legs of which are pivotally connected at their ends to said members at a point thereon spaced from said lower ends, said struts extended angularly downwardly from said frame members, a pair of transversely spaced second struts secured in a rigid manner to said leg rest frame and extended angularly downwardly therefrom, said first struts longitudinally aligned relative to the longitudinal axis of said chair with said second struts, and a pair of elongated elements each pivotally connected to each end to one of said first struts and to one of said second struts, said elongated elements continually disposed parallel to said bars during all movement of said chair between an upright position and a horizontal position;

locking means operatively connected to and extended between said side frames and said leg rest frame for releasably locking same in any one of a plurality of relatively moved positions.

3. An invalid chair comprising in combination:

wheeled, transversely connected side frames;

a back rest frame pivotally connected to said side frames;

9. leg rest frame pivotally connected to said side frame;

a seat rest frame pivotally connected at one end to said back rest frame and at the other end to said leg rest frame;

means for lifting said leg rest frame connected to and extended between said back rest frame and said leg rest frame;

means for releasably locking said back rest frame, seat rest frame, and leg rest frame in any one of a plurality of relatively moved positions including a shaft secured at one end to said leg rest frame and extended beneath said seat rest frame; a guide secured to said side frames and through which said shaft slidably extends, a first yoke pivotally mounted below said shaft to one end of said guide and straddling said shaft, a brake shoe pivotally mounted to said first yoke and movable to frictionally engage said shaft upon downward movement thereof, a second yoke pivotally mounted above said shaft to the other end of said guide and straddling said shaft, another brake shoe pivotally mounted to said second yoke and movable to frictionally engage said shaft upon upward movement thereof;

spring means connected at one end to said first yoke above said pivotal connection with said guide, and connected at the other end to said second yoke below said pivotal connection therewith with said guide and biasing said brake shoes into frictional engagement with said shaft;

lever means including a lever pivotally connected to said back rest and remotely connected to said first yoke below said pivotal connection, said lever movable to pivot said first yoke in a direction wherein said brake shoe thereof moves away from said shaft; and

means connected to and extended between said yokes above said shaft and adapted upon movement of said first yoke, in response to said lever movement, to move said second yoke in a direction wherein said brake shoe thereof moves away from said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 882,900 Loshbough Mar. 24, 1908 1,437,060 Koken Nov. 28, 1922 1,564,000 Koken Dec. 1, 1925 1,698,752 Emmert Jan. 15, 1929 1,748,784 Mierley Feb. 25, 1930 2,322,683 Costa et a1. June 22, 1943 2,609,862 Pratt Sept. 9, 1952 2,655,201 Lorenz Oct. 13, 1953 3,049,375 Carlson Aug. 14, 1962 

1. AN INVALID CHAIR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: WHEELED, TRANSVERSELY CONNECTED SIDE FRAMES; A BACK REST FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE FRAMES; A LEG REST FRAME PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE FRAMES; A SEAT REST FRAME PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS AND AT THE OTHER END TO SAID LEG REST FRAME; MEANS FOR LIFTING SAID LEG REST FRAME IN RESPONSE TO DOWNWARD PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BACK REST FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF STRUTS EACH SECURED TO ONE OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS AT A POINT THEREON SPACED FROM SAID LOWER ENDS, SAID STRUTS DISPOSED IN THE SAME VERTICAL PLANE WITH SAID FRAME MEMBERS AND EXTENDED ANGULARLY DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FRAME MEMBERS, AND A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ELONGATED ELEMENTS ONE OF WHICH IS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT A FREE END TO SAID STRUT AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS CONNECTED IN A RIGID MANNER AT A FREE END TO SAID LEG REST FRAME; LOCKING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDED BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAMES AND SAID LEG REST FRAME FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAME IN ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY MOVED POSITIONS. 